James valentine in mullingar 1912

Guy Warner, an aviation historian and author living in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, wrote to us to see if we could give some assistance with a piece of research, as he is preparing a talk on early aviation in Ireland 1909-1914.

Mr Warner wrote: “I have read an unsubstantiated claim that the pioneer airman, James Valentine, visited Mullingar in October 1912 and gave an air display over the town in his Deperdussin monoplane.”

He sent the following information:

In an early issue of Flight magazine dated 19 October, 1912 there is an intriguing little article which reports as follows: ‘On Tuesday week Mr Valentine was at Mullingar and made a couple of exhibition flights on his Deperdussin from the Newbrook Racecourse. During the first, which was of about eight minutes’ duration, he flew round the town, while in the second he was over Lough Owel, about three miles from Mullingar.’

This must have been the first time that an airman and his craft were seen in Mullingar and would have created something of a sensation. James Valentine, who was 25 years old at the time, and was born in London, was one of the ‘Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines’, as celebrated in the famous film.

He had come to Ireland to take part in the Air Race from Leopardstown to Belfast on September 9, 1912. Due to atrocious weather, he was one of only two competitors to make it as far as Newry in his 50hp Deperdussin monoplane, for which he was awarded a share, with Henry Astley, of the £300 first price.

Following the race, Valentine’s aeroplane was towed by a Ford 20hp car to Balmoral in Belfast, Powerscourt, Mullingar, Cavan, Carrick-on-Shannon, Castlebar and Tuam, at all of which locations he made demonstration flights.

• Guy would like to find out more about James Valentine’s visit to Mullingar. Is there a description or even a photograph tucked away in a family album or scrapbook? Contact him via the Westmeath Examiner or directly at: gwarner06@aol.com.